One of the main problems faced within the renewables industry is the corrosion of monopile-transition piece connections. Traditionally grout has been used to prevent water ingress, however, across the industry businesses were finding that the grout would form micro-annuli and seawater would reach the bolted connections which would result in costly corrosion to the connections.
AXI-Gard is a plant-based solution that is used to prevent corrosion on both oil and gas platforms and wind turbines.
AXI-Gard is buoyant and thicker than seawater, with shear-thinning gel properties making it easy to place within monopile-transition piece connections. Under low shear conditions, the material forms a stable gel that will not readily bypass “grout seals”. If the seal allows water to ingress, the gel sits on top of the water to create a non-conductive and protected area around the bolted connection.
Compatible with a variety of seals, structural supports and other materials, AXI-Gard benefits from a faster installation, improved lifetime inspection and reduced waste during decommissioning .
AXI-Gard is a non-conductive media, which provides corrosion control, typically in the annulus between the transition piece and the monopile. Deployed in splash zones, where oxygen-rich seawater is a significant threat to the integrity of critical elements such as bolts in the monopile, the hydrophobic solution provides protection even if the grout seals fail.
Get in touch with our AXI-Gard experts at Aubin. They'll be able to:
Provide you with more information about this technology
Answer any questions you may have about AXI-Gard
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